As I was knitting down the body of my last Saddle Up pullover, I was thinking about the Bottom Edge. I find they are always a bit tricky. I don’t want this Bottom Border to pull in. It’s for my son and he likes his garments loose, like an over-sized hoodie.
I could work it in garter stitch, round and round, which is what I did in the pattern but, well, I just did that, so what else could I do? I could work it in ribbing to match the ribbed neckband but I had a lot of time to think about it, and this is what I came up with: garter stitch worked back and forth with an SSK to attach to the open stitches at the bottom of the pullover.
I really like how it looks and it’s not pulling in.
As you know, garter stitch is worked back and forth and can be a real pain if you have to turn a garment over and over again to work the right and wrong side rows. Knitting back backwards to the rescue. No turning. The right side of the fabric is facing you all the time. Have you ever done this? It takes some practice for sure.
Knit the right side rows as usual. For the wrong side row you need to work purl stitches on the right side of the fabric. Here we go. With the right side facing and the yarn at the front …
… insert left needle into the next stitch, from back to front.
The left needle is sitting in front now. Wrap the yarn around the left needle counter-clockwise. Take the yarn under the left needle to the back, over the needle to the front again. I’m a continental knitter so the yarn is coming from my left hand but this can also be done with the yarn in your right hand.
Now, to finish I flip the part of the stitch on my right needle forward over the tip of the left needle. If you have the yarn in your right hand, you might push the left needle back through the stitch to finish up.
Ta, da, one purl stitch made.
I have to pay attention to do this but it is getting easier and easier as I work around the bottom of this Saddle Up pullover.
Here’s to learning something new. Cheers, Deb
Any Gauge and Gauge-Free knitting patterns by Deb
Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 
Yeah, I ‘ve got to try this. I hate bottom edges that roll, and your technique will probably solve this. If I can master purling backwards, the edge will get done faster.
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I just finished my bottom edge and I’m very happy with it. The purling back backwards is a little awkward, sort of like learning to knit is awkward.
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Great solution Deb! Gotta love the garter stitch even though this one is executed intelligently!
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Yes, love garter stitch!
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